Name
Evaluating Vertical Migration of Managed Aquifer Recharge Using Electrical Hydrogeology
Date & Time
Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Description
Effective managed aquifer recharge (MAR) requires a detailed understanding of subsurface structures and hydrologic processes to assess aquifer responses to recharge across diverse geological settings, including karst systems. This study characterizes the vertical migration of recharge within the kilometer-thick Arbuckle Simpson aquifer in south-central Oklahoma to support data-driven MAR strategies. Borehole transducers monitored depth-dependent variations in fluid electrical conductivity, while time-lapse electrical resistivity imaging (TERI) captured dynamic subsurface responses to recharge. TERI results reveal distinct increases and decreases in resistivity following precipitation, reflecting the infiltration of low-conductivity rainwater and the flushing of higher-conductivity vadose fluids. Borehole data support these observations, showing clear depth-dependent conductivity variations. Preliminary results indicate a relatively consistent recharge pattern: infiltration into the vadose zone increases system conductance as fluids fill pore spaces, whereas recharge to the phreatic zone reduces conductance due to dilution of higher-conductivity groundwater by rainwater. Although conducted in a karst aquifer in the United States, the processes and methods are directly relevant to Canadian geological environments, including karst and carbonate aquifers, and vulnerable coastal aquifer systems, among others. The integrated electrical hydrogeology framework presented here is transferable for identifying recharge pathways, structural controls, and recharge efficiency, supporting MAR planning and groundwater resilience across Canada.
Location Name
DSU 307
Full Address
Dalhousie University
Halifax NS
Canada
Session Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract ID
132
Speaker Organization
Oklahoma State University
Session Name
IAH-6 (1 of 2)
Co-authors
Todd Halihan Boone Pickens School of Geology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
Presenting Author
Ndubuisi Igwebuike - Boone Pickens School of Geology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA